0L Preparation: Increasing Your Typing Speed

So, you're planning on going to law school? Well, then, Mavis Beacon should be your homegirl. (Yes, that Mavis Beacon, from 5th grade computer classes -- ah, the good old days of Oregon Trail).

I know, I know, this sounds completely ridiculous. Who cares, right? Trust me, you will. Now if you're typing at a decent speed, and you don't need to focus on the keyboard to be able to type a sentence, then you're probably fine -- no need to become Sally Speed Typer. But if you're employing the "two finger" method (or worse, the "one thumb" method that my uncle tends to use), then you should probably look at brushing up your typing skillz over the 0L prep period.

Having been in a typing-heavy, high-pressure, fast-paced environment for the last year, I don't think that this is something that I personally am going to need or do over the summer, but for those 0Ls who haven't been in that same position increasing your typing speed and accuracy is important. It will make you more productive as a student, you'll be able to take more comprehensive notes, and you'll be able to focus on what the professor is actually saying (rather than which key is where).

There's no need to spend money on a fancy computer program, or take typing classes geared towards octogenarian ex-stenographers, either. You can get really basic, helpful tutorials for free online. Just google "typing lesson" or "typing speed" to get a glimpse of some of the different options available.

Truthfully, most of the people in my age bracket (26 and younger, in general) are probably pretty okay typers. We grew up in the era of AIM and chat rooms, so we can probs type pretty speedily. Whether or not you think you need help, you can run a fun little typing speed diagnostic. My favorite is this one. Even if you don't need typing tutorials, try doing the online test (it refreshes to a new literary passage every time you start the clock again) once or twice a week, just to make you aware of how fast you type, and how accurately you type.

I swear, it's helpful (and fun for the slightly OCD, competitive 0Ls out there).

Gentlemen (and ladies), flex your fingers!

So, how fast do you all type?